Easy Dutch Crumble Apple Pie Bars
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Here’s a delicious and easy recipe for Dutch Crumble Apple Pie Bars – a cozy twist on classic apple pie that’s perfect for fall or anytime you’re craving something warm and cinnamon-spiced 🍏🍂
More Apples? These 6 Apple Fall Baking Recipes, Caramel Glazed Apple Crumble Coffee Cake and these 25 Apple-icious Desserts That’ll Tempt You will get you apple-inspired for sure!
Why You’ll Love These Easy Dutch Crumble Apple Pie Bars
These Dutch apple bars feature a comforting buttery, brown sugar crumble topping, freshly baked apples seasoned with warm cinnamon sugar spice and it’s baked atop a delicious shortbread crust.
Definitely scrumptious and so much easier to make than your normal homemade apple pie. OMGoodness yumminess!
Easy to Make Easy Dutch Crumble Apple Pie Bars
These Dutch apple dessert bars are homemade! All you do is prepare your shortbread crust by using a food processor or pastry cutter and press the dough it into your 8×8 pan and start to pre-bake the crust for 15 minutes. While the crust is baking, prepare your crumble topping and set aside, then slice your apples thinly and season with cinnamon and sugar, again set aside. We’re ready to assemble!
Need more info what apples to use while baking? We used Granny Smith apples, our favorite, but check out Bon Appetit’s The Best Apples for Baking to find out more!
After the shortbread crust has baked 15 minutes, layer the apples on top of the shortbread crust, then follow it up with the crumble by sprinkling it on top of the apples and that’s it! Bake and enjoy how heavenly your house will smell. It’s intoxicating to say the least!
Speaking of intoxicating, TBC’s most popular apple dessert is my Awesome Country Apple Fritter Bread. It’s been featured on Food Network, and it’s the #1 apple recipe on Pinterest. If you’ve not had a chance to try it, I highly recommend it and it’s perfect to give away to friends and family during all of the holiday seasons.
Gather Your Ingredients
SHORTBREAD CRUST
- unsalted butter, room temperature
- granulated sugar
- vanilla extract
- all-purpose flour
DUTCH APPLE FILLING
- Granny Smith apples peeled, cored, and thinly sliced or small julienne style (3 ½ – 4 cups) (can use honeycrisp, braeburn, pink lady or any firm type apple)
- granulated sugar
- all-purpose flour
- ground cinnamon
- ground nutmeg
CRUMBLE TOPPING
- brown sugar
- all-purpose flour
- butter chilled butter, cut into cubes
- salt
- Optional: cinnamon
Instructions How To Make Easy Dutch Crumble Apple Bars Recipe
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8×8 inch baking dish with cooking spray, line with parchment paper for easy removal.
SHORTBREAD CRUST
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy for 2-3 minutes.
- Add vanilla and mix until combined. Add flour and mix until combined and dough is crumbly.
- Press dough evenly into bottom of prepared pan. Bake for 12-14 minutes, until dough is slightly puffed. Remove from oven and set aside to prepare to add the Dutch Apple Filling.
DUTCH APPLE FILLING
- Meanwhile, while the crust is baking, in a large bowl, combine the apple filling ingredients: toss apples with cinnamon, nutmeg, flour and sugar until evenly coated, set aside.
CRUMBLE TOPPING
- In a medium bowl, using a pastry blender or cutter, combine brown sugar, flour, salt and butter together and mix until crumbly; set aside. Add cinnamon for an extra boost of cinnamon if you wish! Can also use food processor for quicker results.
ASSEMBLE THE BARS
- Maintain oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
- Place apple mixture in an even layer over baked crust.
- Sprinkle with crumble topping.
- Bake 40-45 minutes until golden brown.
- Let cool 2 hours then refrigerate 2 hours. Serve or store in an airtight container.
Storing Dutch Apple Bars
- After the Dutch apple dessert is done, slice them into servings after they’ve completely cooled. Be sure to store the bars in an airtight container, or over the baking dish in plastic wrap before placing it in the refrigerator. Refrigerate and take them out of the fridge as needed.
Other Ways to Serve Dutch Crumble Apple Bars
- For a crunchier topping add some chopped pecans, walnuts or toffee into your crumb toppings.
- For more texture, add oats to the crumble for extra texture.
- Serve as is or drizzle with some vanilla glaze or a caramel sauce to make caramel apple pie bars!
- Pair it with a huge scoop of vanilla ice cream with the apple bar warmed up in the microwave for an incredibly, sinful experience! This dessert screams FALL! 🙂
Easy Dutch Crumble Apple Pie Bars For A Larger Crowd
These delicious apple pie bars may disappear fast! If you’re serving more than just a few people, double the recipe and bake in a 9×13 baking dish. Apple comfort food at it’s finest!
This Dutch crumble apple pie bars recipe is an easy and delicious way to make a comforting dessert that will be enjoyed by all. As we’ve covered, you just start by combining warm spices with sweet apples and finish with a crisp and crumbly topping, and you have a cozy and comforting dessert that will satisfy even the most experienced pie-baker.
At the end of the day, the Dutch crumble apple pie bar recipe is a perfect example of how the simplest of ingredients can be turned into something extraordinary. Check out 45 Must-Try Best Apple Dessert Recipes for more apple recipes!
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More Apple Favorites
- Dutch Apple Pie with Oatmeal Streusel
- Salted Caramel Chip Apple Blondies
- Apple Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake
- Cinnamon Applesauce Cake
- Farmhouse Apple Walnut Loaf
- Awesome Country Apple Fritter Bread
Check out these Peanut Butter Milk Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies, Cranberry Orange Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies, Vanilla Bean Shortbread Cookies and this Cranberry Orange Quick Bread too!
Easy Dutch Crumble Apple Pie Bars
Ingredients
SHORTBREAD CRUST
- ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
DUTCH APPLE FILLING
- 3 large Granny Smith apples peeled, cored, and thinly sliced or small julienne style (3 ½ - 4 cups) (can use honeycrisp or any firm type apple)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
CRUMBLE TOPPING
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 6 tablespoons butter chilled butter, cut into cubes
- ¼ tsp salt
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8x8 inch baking dish with cooking spray, line with parchment for easy removal.
SHORTBREAD CRUST
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy for 2-3 minutes.
- Add vanilla and mix until combined. Add flour and mix until combined and dough is crumbly.
- Press dough evenly into bottom of prepared pan. Bake for 12-14 minutes, until dough is slightly puffed. Remove from oven and set aside to prepare to add the Dutch Apple Filling.
DUTCH APPLE FILLING
- Meanwhile, while the crust is baking, in a large bowl, combine the apple filling ingredients: toss apples with cinnamon, nutmeg, flour and sugar until evenly coated, set aside.
CRUMBLE TOPPING
- In a medium bowl, using a pastry cutter, combine brown sugar, flour, salt and butter together and mix until crumbly; set aside. Add cinnamon for an extra boost of cinnamon if you wish! Can also use food processor for quicker results.
ASSEMBLE THE BARS
- Maintain oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
- Place apple mixture in an even layer over baked crust.
- Sprinkle with crumble topping.
- Bake 40-45 minutes until golden brown.
- Let cool 2 hours then refrigerate 2 hours. Serve or store in an airtight container.
Notes
Recipe slightly modified from Food Network
